Mitsubishi ASX, more than a funny face

Sat on an Outlander platform that provides roominess, functionality and some off-road capabilities, the crossover ASX offers a friendly face and a fresh style that has gained staunch supporters in Japan, prior to its launch in Europe. The body front with the jet fighter grille theme has been used in previousMitsubishis, but ASX enhances it with its very short overhangs, producing an overall length of only 4.3 m. The new model, therefore, inhabits the C-segment as a compact companion to the more conventionalLancer. And can be specified with an outstanding level of equipment, with stability control and 7 airbagsalways as standard.

Mitsubishi anticipated some public reservations on SUVs and their usual excess weight, bulk and fuel consumption. In the ASX they have fought kilograms, improved aerodynamics, chose low resistance Yokohama 215/60-17 tires with special compound and used tricks as the automatic Stop&Go system or regenerative braking. There is an updated and frugal 1.6 petrol engine with 117 HP, but the powertrain jewel is the new all-alloy 1.8 DiD with 150 HP, coupled to a 6-gear manual transmission. This 16-valve DOHC carries, for the first time in a Diesel engine for passenger cars, the MIVEC system that electronically controls the timing and lift of intake valves. Its record-low 14,9:1 compression ratio guarantees remarkable smoothness, and the 8-vane turbocharger gives a wider range of geometry variability. ASX 1.8 DiD delivers good performance and at the same time boasts CO2 emission figures of 145 or 150 g/km, with 2WD or 4WD transmission.